Map: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park-digital-map.aspx Uses: Running, Walking, Bicycling Know Before You Go: The water features in this park can mean it gets buggy during certain times of year. The network of trails can be confusing without a map. You can find both digital and printable maps on the Stanley Park website. Length: Almost 17 miles of trails total. Time: Depends on how many miles you walk or run. The trails are relatively easy so we went 2.5 to 3 miles per hour. Difficulty: Easy. Terrain: Some trails are crushed aggregate, others grass and dirt, others mulch, and some are asphalt. 5.5 miles of asphalt - the Vancouver Sea Wall Trail - runs along the sea. Dog-friendly: Yes, but dogs must be kept on leashes and you must have a license for your dog. Kid-friendly: Yes, absolutely. There’s a beach, a train and an aquarium if the hiking gets to be too much.
Opened in 1888, Stanley Park is a sampler platter of British Columbia: West Coast rainforest, gorgeous beaches, secluded lagoons, mountain views, and cultural and historic landmarks. It offers a beautiful rose garden, a train, an aquarium, and you’ll even see a cultural exhibit of totem pole replicas along one of its hiking trails. We found wildlife aplenty on our hike: beavers, rare birds, deer, a fox, turtles, and many other remarkable sightings. We also were treated to a variety of flowers, from wildflowers and lily pads to roses and sculptured gardens.
The Sea Wall trail leads from downtown Vancouver all the way to Stanley Park, and is a wonderful walk along the water, giving spectacular views of English Bay. Bicycles are welcome, as are dogs. It takes you by a lighthouse that keeps watch over the bay. Stanley Park is a must-see while you are in British Columbia, and represents a bit of the best of this area of the country.